Martin Dwyer keen to ride at Aintree in memory of late father

Fri 24 Feb 2017

Martin Dwyer will apply for a jumps licence so he can ride a horse at the Aintree Festival in honour of his late father.

The Derby-winning jockey is hoping for clearance from the British Horseracing Authority so he can partner the Iain Jardine-trained Loud And Clear in the Grade Two bumper at the three-day Grand National meeting in April.

Loud And Clear, a game winner at Ayr in October, is owned by the Tapas Partnership, a syndicate made up of some of the Dwyer family's close friends.

The rider's father, Martin snr, died in January, aged 63, and was largely responsible for Dwyer, who won the Derby aboard Sir Percy in 2006, becoming a jockey.

He even wrote a letter to former trainer Ian Balding to ask if his son could become an apprentice at his Kingsclere yard in Berkshire.

Dwyer said: "It's been a tough time, this last month.

"I've got to speak to the BHA and hopefully they will let me ride as I think it will be a really nice thing to remember my dad like that.

"He loved racing and it was my dad who got me into the sport in the first place.

"It will obviously mean a lot to have a ride at Aintree, which is on our doorstep.

"I've never ridden over jumps before, but it's only a bumper so at least I won't have to jump over anything.

"He's a good horse and it will be a dream come true if I can win it."

Jardine added: "His owners are passionate Scousers and they would like a good day out at Aintree and want Martin to ride because of his father sadly passing away.

"He's a decent horse - he's done the business well - so we'll see how he works over the next few weeks and hopefully we can get to Aintree with him.